HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Air quality in and around Huntsville improved early Saturday after spending several hours in the unhealthy range as Fourth of July festivities filled the skies with pyrotechnics – and plenty of smoke.
The government’s Air Quality Index put Huntsville in the “red” zone just after midnight, and it stayed there until dawn.
The culprit was PM 2.5, which refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less. These tiny particles are a major component of air pollution and can be inhaled deep into the lungs, posing health risks and discomfort – particularly to those with certain respiratory conditions…